Up, Up, & Away!!

This weekend I got a special surprise when a friend took me hot-air-ballooning! At my family's farm in Boyce, VA, we used to sit outside and wave to the balloons as they passed over during the balloon festival at Long Branch. Now, I actually had the opportunity to experience the other side of it!
We rode with pilot Reed Basley, who was a very cool guy. He told us the balloon we were in was an old advertisement balloon, but they had replaced most of the ads except a Citgo one at the very top. We went up to about 700 feet and touched down in a field and at the Winchester-Fauquier airport. We even got to grab some leaves off of trees as we floated by. Even with my huge fear of heights, Reed made the trip feel really safe. All in all it was very neat!!

If you're interested in balloon rides, you can contact Reed Basley, Pilot. or visit the website at www.virginiaballoonflights.com

Horseology!

Just returned from the 2010 Virginia Region Show Jumping Rally in Manakin Sabot, VA. It was held by the Deep Run Hunt Pony Club, so we got to play on their turf :) I'm too tired to write a lot about it right now, but our kids did great!! I was the captain of the 'Horseology' team, which included 3 younger riders and a stable manager. We struggled a little with the horse management, just in the learning process for those guys, so we actually ended 18th in horse management!! Not the best, but I think we all learned a lot (as always!!). Overall we did a lot better, and ended in 9th. I think all the teams did great! The officials also made a comment at the end of rally about how the vet on call thought the horses and ponies all looked very well cared for, so that made me pretty proud.

Individually, Wanda was an absolute ANGEL this whole weekend. Her ground manners were perfect even being stuck in a small stall, and her jumping was very good. We only had one clear round, but only one rail in each of the other three. I knew exactly what I did wrong (don't you hate that?!?). Our 'take your own line' round went a bit odd when I forgot my pre-planned course, but somehow we made it over each jump and through the finish! Also, it was pretty neat that I was the highest rated (B) and oldest competitor at the rally. One kid asked me if I was married!

Also, Wanda did her thing again and won us the Dancing Weather Memorial Equitation trophy. It's given out to one competitor each year by the judge who thinks the horse/rider are a good-looking pair and do well during one of the rounds. Just so happens that one round she jumped clean and got all of her leads :) I'm very proud of her again!!

(FYI: The “Dancing Weather” Memorial Equitation award is presented to the rider exhibiting outstanding skills in position, control, and horsemanship. This trophy is given by the Reistrup Family in memory of Gordon and Catherine Reistrup’s horse “Dancing Weather”. “Dancer” anchored numerous regional and national rally teams throughout the ‘80’s in Show Jumping, Dressage and Combined Training. The recipient is determined by the Riding Judge with input from the Chief Horse Management Judge.)

Our team ribbon and the Dancing Weather Memorial Equitation Award


Complete results, once posted, should be at this website:
Virginia Region Pony Club Rally Results

DRPC Spring Horse Trials

Wanda and I had the opportunity to compete in the Novice Horse division at the Difficult Run Pony Club horse trials for the first time as a team. I've been there a MILLION times with previous horses, since Frying Pan Park is my 'home turf' for all pony club activities, but this was a first for Wanda :)

Saturday I fulfilled my volunteer duties as a scribe for Helen Brettell, a VERY interesting British dressage judge. I have never had her as a judge before, so it was great to hear her comments about the rides. This was also my first time ever scribing, so it was a pleasure having someone who was patient enough to work with me!

Sunday was our ride day, and Wanda was a super star. Our dressage test went quite well, and we ended with a 27.0%, putting us in first place! We had a slight setback when I noticed her hind shoes 'clanking', so after a quick run to the farrier things were good again. Stadium went great with Gegi Winslett as our judge, and we pulled out a double clear round despite our very forward warmup session! She was a bit backed up cross-country, but jumped everything clean and pulled out the win for us :)

Dressage

Stadium

Cross Country


I was extremely lucky to have a huge group of supporters during the event. My mom, dad, and brother came, as well as my grandma, and two best friends! Plus, since it was the horse trials that my pony club puts on, the volunteers were all cheering for me. Overall it was a great time and I thank everyone for coming!!


-Brittanie

Home from Aiken, Bittersweet

As you have probably noticed from Facebook/Twitter updates, Wanda and I have returned from Aiken to my parents' home in Fairfax Station, VA. There is a point in time when being a working student starts to wear on you both mentally and physically, and I think ending things was the best option. PD and I are going to continue working together in PA, as I am planning to drive up for lessons when he is in the area. True Prospect is definitely a bustling place to be. I kind of wish I had started my working student career in a smaller operation, because sometimes I felt sort of like a number in that busy place. Since I started working there with an unsuitable horse and am now beginning again at novice with a new horse, I was never able to get the attention of an upper-level rider, and was therefore destined to remain a "backdoor" working student. I did learn a TON about the eventing world, and hope to return to the craziness once Wanda is ready. Emma is an amazing groom, and I wish her and the rest of the TPF team good luck in the coming years. They definitely have their hands full with everything going on there. I'm just glad I got to be a part of it when I did!

As for me, I am doing well back home with Wanda and Keana :) Dad's not too thrilled about having another dog in the house, but since she's the most well-behaved it helps my case! Hopefully I will be able to find a place of my own soon. Wanda and I had our first real dressage lesson with Patrick Thursday, and he was really excited for us. Patrick wants me to train her up as a dressage horse, but I couldn't do that. I'm a cross-country junkie!! Yesterday mom helped me jump school Wanda over a single fence, and it was incredible how relaxed and easy it was. I guess I get really stressed out when I have a lesson with PD, and so it makes her stressed as well. Lately she has been rushing the fences and making me nervous about a potential "Sully" situation, so it was nice to be able to get her back so easily. As for Sully, he is currently awaiting a vetting at Phyllis Dawson's Windchase Farm. I sent him there for the winter to get some training and be sold, as I couldn't afford to take him with me to Aiken, and mom had her hands full with all the snow!! Fingers crossed he passes the vetting and gets sold this week!

Hope everyone has a great Easter!!

-Brittanie

Aiken Plague!!

We've been hit! Jennie was the first to get it, and now I have been brought down by the plague. It's a pretty weird illness which starts as a headache at night and gives you a horrible achy feeling in the morning. Unfortunately my day off wasn't until Friday, so I was pretty down-under this morning. Today at work Susanna graciously offered to switch days with me, so now I have tomorrow :)

This past weekend was pretty amazing. Wanda and I competed in our very first event at Sporting Days Farm going Open Beginner Novice. She was a bit tense in the dressage, but was able to crank out a 30.5% which is so much better than tests I had with Sully!! We had one rail in stadium but jumped around cross-country clean. I was so proud of her!! We ended up 2nd :)

Jennie had a very successful event as well. She ended 1st at Training with her new project, Walkabout, 1st at Novice with a young sale horse named Chase, and 3rd at Novice with a young sale horse named Roosevelt. Kali had a frustrating day, but still ended 7th going Training with her horse Arvy. And, Amy Ruth competed Santa at Prelim, and ended 5th!! All-in-all, a very good weekend for all :)

Phillip's barn in Aiken


The inside courtyard of Kevin Keane's barn (where Wanda lives!)



Kevin Keane's barn

Ohhh Aiken!

So we've relocated to Aiken, SC for the winter, and things are going pretty well! The work here is definitely more tough and the days are longer. I'm actually running out the door but wanted to give a brief update.. will do more later!!


What happens when you get in hot sun with no lotion after being in cold weather for a long time?

Burn blisters!

10 days till Aiken!

There are 10 days until the official move to Aiken! Emma's been crazy trying to get all the horses clipped and all the stuff together to take down with us. I'm actually heading home to northern VA this weekend (Friday to Sunday) to attend an HA Rating retreat at Millwood. This is totally unrelated to TPF, but the knowledge I gain from this weekend should definitely help my work with the horses here. When I get back from that, I'll be making the first trip with Emma down to Aiken on Monday, setting up the barn on Tuesday, then driving back to PA on Wednesday. One day of work, then back to Aiken for the move on Friday. Busy week ahead!! All in all, it's about 35 hours of driving for me!

The other news, is that I may have finally found a horse! I recently tried and vetted a very talented dutch warmblood mare, so I am just waiting on the word from the big man to find out if she should be bought! Pretty exciting....